BT 

870 


Dr. 
DISCOURSE 

O  N    T  H  E 

GLORIOUS  CHANGE 

O  F    T  H  E 

VILE  BODY. 


^f^^^^^^^^tv^^^^^^'^^^-^i^-^y; 

• 

• 


DISCOURSE 

O  N    T  H  E 

Prefenc  Vilenefs  of  the  Body, 

AND 

It's  Future  Glorious  Change 

B    X 

CHRIST. 


By  MATHER  BYLES,  D.  D. 

Paftor  of  a  Church  in  BOSTON. 

A&.  xvii.  1  8.  -  He  preached  unto  them    ?ESUS> 
and  the  Refurrsftion. 

The    SECOND    EDITION. 


BOSTON,    NEW-ENGLAND: 
RE-PRINTED   BY^  THOMAS  AND  JOHN  FLEET, 
AT  THE  HEART  ^  GROWN  i 


t     5    '] 


THE 


Glorious  Change  of  the    Vile  Body. 


PHILIP.    III.  21. 

Jhall  change  our  vile   Body,  that  it  may  be 
fajkioned  like  unto  his  glorious  Body. 

|HE  ApoftlePtftf/in  the  Chapter  open  before  us,  a£- 
ter  fome  Precepts  laid  down,  concludes  with  two 

Motives  to  perfvvade  Men  to  the  Practice  of  them  : 

And  thefe  are,  the  Coming  of  CHRIST,  in  the  Verfe  pre- 
cecding  my  Text  ;  and  the  Refarreflian  of  the  Saints  now 
read  unto  you.  Both  of  them  are  very  foicmn  and  fublimc 
Thoughts :  But  it  is  only  the  latter  which  corncs  immediate- 
ly within  the  Compafs  of  our  prefent  Meditation. 

The  Refurreflion  of  the  Dead,  and,  which  is  much  the 
fame  thing,  the  'Transformation  of  thofe  fcund  alive,  at  the 
coming  of  CHRIST,  are  very  clearly  revealed  in  the  New 
Teftament,  efpecially  by  the  Apoflle  Paul.  Bur  ihe  Glory 
of  a  Believer's  Raifed  Body  is  nor,  nor  indeed  can  it  be  any 
where  more  fully  exprefs'd,  than  in  the  Words  under  cur 
immediate  View.  Who  Jhall  change  our  vile  Body,  that  it 
may  be  fajhioned  like  unto  his  glorious  Body. 

The  Apoftle  tells  u?,  Oar  Bodies  are  now  vi/e;  our  vile 
Bodies  (hall  be  changed  ;  it  is  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST 
who  (hall  change  them ;  and  they  fhall  \}tfajbwfd  like  unto 
his  glorious  Body.  How  much  is  crowded  into  a  few  Words ! 

M180583 


6        ^Tfag&rrtus  Change  of  the  vile  Body. 

how  emphatical  are  they  !  how  copious  !  how  fubiime  ! 
How  amply  do  they  fill  the  Mind,  and  exhauft  the  imagine 
lioi),  infpire  our  Faith,  and  awaken  our  Joy  ? 

In  handling  thefe  Words,  I  ftiall  only  have  Time  to  fpeak 
to  three  of  the  four  Articles  (or  if  you  pleafe,  DtftnnesJ 
which  you  fee  are  plainly  contained  in  them. 

Thefe  Bodies  of  ours,  In  their  prefent  State,  are  VILE  BO- 
DIES. Who  fhall  change  our  -vile  Bodies  *  Shall  we  here 
Jet  our  Thoughts  loofe  upon  a  few  Particulars,  which  will 
render  it  plain,  and  humble  us  with  ths  fad  Conviclion, 
Thefe  Bodies,  of  whofe  Beauty  and  Vigor  we  are  fo  apt  co 
boaft,  alas,  they  are  vile  Bodies. 

Their  Original  is  mean  and  defpicable.  In  the  Senfe  of 
the  Greek  Text,  our  Body  was  vile,  even  in  the  Purity  of  it* 
firffc  Creadon.  The  Word  which  we  tramlne  vile,  is 
r*v$iiKoff*as :  The  Body  of  our  Humiliation.  'Tis  a  humble 
Body.  It  carries  Humiliation  even  in  its  Origin  and  Con- 
frirurion.  It  comes  from  Humus  ;  the  moifl  Ground;  The- 
Clay  ;  the  low  Earth.  The  Firft  Principle  of  Humane,  is 
Humus.  Humiliation  and  Vilenefs  is  thus  entail'd  upon  our 
Body,  even  from  the  primitive  Materials  out  of  which  it 
was  framed.  Even  Adam  in  Paradife  and  Innocence,  might 
in  this  facred  fenfe,  hare  own'd  a  Vile  Body. 

And  now,  Let  the  Proud  Creature  look  down  to  the 
Earth  and  view  the  Dud  from  which  he  fprung,  and  then 
confefs  his  Body  Vile.  And  the  Lord  God  formed  Man  out 
of  the  Du)}  of  the  Ground.\  Out  of  the  Clay  was  this  living 
Frame  falhioned ;  here  it  had  its  humble  Original ;  and 
from  this  abjecl  Earth  did  itarife  and  flioot  up,  thus  curious 
in  its  Form  and  Conftkntion.  This  beauteous  Arrangement 
of  finer  Duft,  was  taken  from  the  common  Glebe,  into  which 
it  mu(t  quickly  fall,  and  refolve  again.  The  Limbs  which 
now  (hew  the  exafteft  Symmetry  and  Proportion,  the  Pulfes 
which  beat  with  thefierceft  Energy  and  Life, and  the  Afpe& 
that  is  flufh'd  with  Health  and  Beauty,  owe  all  their  Exif- 
to  the  fame  Clods  of  Earth  which  harbour  our  Bre^ 

thren, 
\  Gea.  ii.  7. 


1136  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body.          7 

rhrcn,  the  Worms :  The  Worms,  which  wait  to  feaft  upon 
our  mouldering  Carcafe ;  and  riot  in  our  wafting  Flefh. 
The  Body  is  of  the  Earth,  earthy:  Duft  it  is,  and  to  Duft 
it  Jball  return,  Let  us  reflect  thus,  and  then  confefs, 
This  VILE  BODY. 

It  isaym/l'/Body,  and  therefore  a  vile  Body.  It  has  in 
it  a  Body  of  Death;  and  no  wonder  it  looks  ghaftly,  and 
loathfome,  and  vile.  All  irs  Appetites  are  vitiated,  and 
diforder'd,  and  it  leads  the  Soul  about  like  a  Malefaftor  irt 
Chains.  The  Spirit  which  God  has  infufed,  is  depraved  and 
polluted  by  it  :  and  Original  Sin  is  communicated  thro*  the 
Veins  of  the'  guilty  Parent.  The  feveral  Senfes  of  the 
Body  prove  fo  many  Traitors  to  the  nobler  Faculties  of  the 
Mind,  and  continually  captivate  and  debafe  it.  How  many 
Sins  enter  at  the  Eyes  f  and  how  many  idle  Ideas  pafs  in  at 
the  Ears,  forever  open  to  the  Vanity  of  empty  and  corrupted 
Air.  The  Luxuries  of  the  Palate  debauch  the  enflaved 
Mortal,  and  drag  him  on  to  Excefs  and  Intemperance.  He 
wanders  among  fenfible  Appearances,  and  forgets  fpiriiua! 
and  divine  Realities.  He  is  hardly  brought  to  confider, 
that  the  things  which  are  SEEN  are  temporal,  but  t!:£ 
things  which  are  not  feen  are  eternal.  Is  not  the  Body,  that 
thus  abuies  the  Soul,  the  Rational  Principle  within,  a  viui 
Body  ?  The  Body,  the  beautiful  Workmanfliip  of  an  Alwife 
Artificer,  how  is  it  funk  beneath  the  Level  of  the  brutal 
World,  by  its  Sin  againft  God  P  0  wretched  that  ive  are  I 
who  Jball  deliver  us  from  the  Body  of  this  Death  f 

Our  Body  is  a  weak,  infirm  Body,  and  therefore  a  vile 
Body.  It  is  a  feeble  Houfc  of  Clay,  that  totters  to  every 
Blaft.  Difeafe  and  Mortality  lurk  in  every  Member,  and 
Vein,  and  Mufcle.  It  is  liable  ro  Contagions  and  Diflempers 
of  all  Sorts.  They  march  filent  and  unfeen  in  the  fine  Air 
about  us.  They  lie  brooding  in  their  Venom,  through  all 
the  Fluids  within  ~  Latent  Deftru&ion  !  Death  in  Ambuf- 
cade!  A  Thoufand  different  Fevers  {land  ready  to  fcize  this 
Body ;  to  torment  it,  and  to  burn  away  its  Life  :  To  lick 
up  the  finer  Spirits,  and  fnap  the  Vital  Ccrd.  It  may  be 


8         T'he  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body* 

at  once  blinded  by  aDefluxion  of  Rheum,  fetrer'd  with  the 
Tortures  of  the  Gout,  and  broken  in  the  Agonies  of  the 
Stone  :  Like  Sampfon  in  the  Pbiliftian  Prifon-houfe,  at  the 
fame  Time  blinded^  and  Jhackled,  and  grinding.  Every  Nerve 
about  us,  is  capable  of  Pains  too  great  for  us  to  bear,  too 
ftrong  for  us  ro  refid,  and  too  fubcii  for  us  to  efcape.  The 
Strength  of  the  mod  athletick  Body,  is  (till  on  the  Wing  - 
may  fly  away  fuddcnly  ;  will  do  it  fpeedily  ;  and  mud  ac 
Jad  wholly  leave  it.  The  Beaury  of  the  moil  amiable  Body, 
is  every  Day  hading  ro  fade,  and  go  out  in  obfcure  Darknefs* 
Our  daily  eating  and  drinking,  proclaim  a  feeble  Body,  that 
would  faint  and  die  if  thefe  were  omitted.  Every  Time  we 
fet  down  to  a  Table,  or  take  a  Cup  in  our  Hand,  we  coofefs 
we  are  Creatures  that  need  condant  Support  and  Nourilh> 
ment.  When  we  lie  down  to  the  neceflary  Sleep  of  the 
Night,  we  own  the  Sleep  of  the  Night  mult  relieve  us  a 
little  from  the  long  Slumber  of  the  Grave.  Every  Breath 
we  draw  infmuates,  in  a  filent  Whifper,  our  Frailty,  our 
Dependance  on  God,  and  our  fiiort  Continuance  :  It  warns 

us  that  our  Life  is  Wind. So  weak  is  our  Body,  that  it 

takes  away  much  of  our  Thought  from  our  Souls,  to  contrive 

for  its  Life,  and  Health,  and  Suftenance Let  us  look  now 

upon  the  brittle  Frame,  and  exclaim,  O  the  vile  Body  ! 

It  is  a  dying  Body,  and  therefore  a  vile  Body.  Here  our 
Bodies  now  (land,  perhaps  flourifhing  in  all  the  Pride  and 
Bloom  of  Youth  :  Strong  our  Sinews  ;  moid  our  Bones  j 
a&iveand  fupple  our  Joints ;  our  Pulfes  beating  with  Vigor, 
and  our  Hearts  leaping  with  a  Profufion  of  Life  and  Energy. 
But  oh  !  Vain  Appearance  and  gaudy  Dream  !  Surely  every 
Man  at  his  bed  Eftate,  is  altogether  Vanity.  He  walks  in  a 
vain  Show;  he  glitters,  with  delufive  Colors;  he  fpends  his 
Years  as  an  Idle  Tale.  What  avails  if,  that  he  is  now  hardy 
and  robud,  who  mud  quickly  pant  upon  a  Death -bed* 
What  avails  it,  that  his  Limbs  are  fprightly  in  their  eafy 
Motions,  which  mud  quickly  dretch  in  the  dying  Agony. 
The  Lips  now  flunYd  with  a  Rofey  Colour,  will  anon  quiver 
and  turn  pale.  The  Eyes  that  roll  with  a  fparkling  Viva- 
city, will  fix  ia  a  ghadly  Horror.  The  mod  jnuiical  Voice 

\vill 


The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body.         $ 

vvili  be  ftop'd  ;  and  the  tuneful  Breath  fly  away.  The  Face 
where  Beauty  now  triumphs,  will  appear  cold,  and  wan,  and 
difroal,  rifled  by  the  Hand  of  Death.  A  cold  Sweat  will 
chill  the  Body  •  a  hoarfc  Rattling  will  fill  the  Throat  ;  the 
Heart  will  heave  with  Pain  and  Labour,  and  the  Lungs  catch 
for  Breath,  but  gafp  in  vain.  Our  Friends  (land  in  Tears 
about  our  Bed  :  They  weep  ;  but  they  cannot  help  us.  The 
very  Water  with  which  they  would  cool  and  moiften  our 
parched  Mouths,  we  receive  with  a  hollow  Groan.  Anon 
we  give  a  Gafp,  and  they  (hriek  out  in  Didrefs,  'Oh!  His 
gone,—  His  dead  /'•  The  Body  in  that  Inftant  ftretches  on 
the  Sheets,  an  awful  Corpfe.  This  is  the  End  of  our  Body 
for  this  World  :  Pronounce  now  ;  Is  it  not  a  vile  Body  ? 
But  this  brings  me  to  the  lad  Article. 

Our  Body  will  quickly  be  a  dead  Body,  and  this  proclaims 
it  a  vileJBody.  The  Silks  and  foft  Linnen  which  now  fold 
and  adorn  thefe  Bodies,  rrmd  be  changed  for  a  winding 
Sheet.  The  Applaufe  and  Compliment  which  now  flatter 
us,  are  not  heard  in  the  Retirements  of  the  Grave,  to  difturb 
its  awful  Silence  :  Nor  (hall  Reproaches  and  Reviling* 
break  in  upon  our  Reft  there.  Our  pleafant  Habitatfbns 
\viij  be  left  for  others,  while  we  have  no  Apartment  left  us, 
but  a  Coffin,  or  a  Tomb  at  mod.  We  (hail  forfake  our 
Difhes  and  our  Tables  ;  and  our  felves  become  Food  for  the 
crawling  Vermin  of  the  Dud.  How  quickly  {hall  we  haden  to 
Clay  and  Alhes,  in  the  folitary,  and  dark,  and  cold  G 

In  a  few  Years,  the  mod  beauteous,  or  learned,  or  pious 
Head  will  grin  a  hideous  Skull.  Our  broken  Coffins  will 
fiiew  nothing  but  black  Bones,  and  black  Mould,  and  Worms 
rind  Filth.  The  Places  that  knew  us  {hall  know  us  no  more. 
TnePerfons  who  were  mod  intimate  in  our  Acquaintance; 
who  footh'd  us  with  their  Yifirs,  or  carefb''d  us  in  their 
Bofoms,  will  now  forget  us.  When  they  {hall  perhaps  enter 
our  Tombs  and  take  up  our  Bones  in  their  Hands,  they'll 
not  fufpeft  the  frightful  Carcafe  to  be  Ours,  fave  by  the 
Letters  on  the  broken  Coffin,  or  the  Inicription  en  lha 


id  ring  Monument. 


B  And 


AO         The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body. 

And  now,  Man  giveth  up  the  Ghoft,  and  where  is  he  ? 
What  becomes  of  the  Dream  of  Worldly  Happinefs?  Where 
are  the  Houfes,  and  the  Coffers  P  The  Great  Name,  the 
ioud  Applaufe,  and  the  Brutal  Pleafure  ?  His  Riches  are 
left  ro  ethers,:  And  to  whom  he  knows  not  ;  whether  a 
Wife  Man  or  a  Fool.  He  for  fakes  his  numerous  liouiH 
••s  confined  to  a  narrow  Coffin,  in  a  lonely  Vault.  Cm 
;i  his  Lands  he  retains  but  a  few  Foot  of  Earth  ro  cover 
him  from  the  Sight.  His  beaded  Name  is  forgot  among  the 
living,  ai.j  fcarce  once  in  an  Age  cafually  read  upon  his 
Grave -done.  His'  Breath  goeth  forth,  he  returneth  to  his 
Earth  j  in  that  very  Day  his  Thoughts  perifh.  j 

The  Spirit  is  given  up  j  and  fee  the  Body  drops  down, 
pale,  and  ft  iff,  and  cold.  The  Eyes  are  fixt  ;  the  Teeth 
are  fet ;  the  Breath  is  fled.  Is  this  the  Face  we  once  gazM, 
upon  with  fo  m'uch  Pieafure  ?  Are  thefe  the  Cheeks  th.it 
gfow'd  fo  frcfa,  and  bloom'd  fo  lovely  ?  Are  ihefe  the 
Lips  that  fmiPd  fo  graceful,  and  poarM  out  fuch  a  gliding 
Stream  of  Eloquence  and  Mufick  ?  Where's  the  tuneful 
Voice  that  once  held  the  lidening  Ear,  and  rais'd  the  atten- 
tive Eye  ?  Where  are  the  proportioned  Limbs,  the  fupple 
Joints,  the  vigorous  Pulfes,  the  beating  Heart,  the  working 
Brain,  and  the  breathing  Bread  ?  Lo,  theBody  is  laid  in  the 
Dud,  and  the  Worms  cover  it.  Polluted  Vermin  crawl 
over  every  Part  of  the  elegant  Form,  and  the  enchanting 
Face.  It  is  folded  in  a  winding  Sheer,  it  is  nailed  in  a  black 
Coffin,  and  it  is  depofited  in  &  filent  Vault,  amidd  Shades  and 
Solitude.  The  Skin  breaks  and  moulders  away;  the  Flefli 
drops  in  Dad  from  the  Bones  ;  the  Bones  are  covered  with 
black  Mould,  and  Worms  twill  about  them.  The  Coffins 
break,  and  the  Graves  fink  in,  and  the  disjointed  Skelleton 
ilrews  the  lonely  Vault.  This  (liapely  Fabrick  mud  leave  its 
Ruins  among  the  Graves ;  lie  negle&ed  and  forgot ;  moulder 
away  without  a  Name,  and  fcatrer  among  the  Elements. 
*  And  were  thefe  Bones  once  living  like  ours  ?  and  mud  ours 
be  as  they  ?'  This  hideous  Skull,  the  frightful  Jaw  fallen, 
and  the  black  Teeth  naked  to  the  Eye,  was  it  once  a  thinking 

Frame, 
.         pfcl,  cxlvi,    , 


T*he  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Eody*          1 1 

Frame,  covered  with  a  beauteous  Skin  ?  Strange  Alteration 
made  by  Death  !  And  are  not  our  Burying-Grounds  full  of 
fuch  Speclacles  ?  What  do  they  but  illuftrate  and  confirm 
the  Do&rine  ?  Methinks  every  Grave,  with  open  Mouth* 
preaches  upon  my  Text,  This  Vile  Bidy.  O  Vile  Body  ! 
under  what  infamous  Difhonours  of  Loathfomenefs  and 
Corruption  art  thou  ?  Thou  inuft  be  laid  away  in  the  dufly 
Galleries  of  the  Grave,  the  gloomy  Chambers  pf  Death,  un- 
regarded and  unknown  ;  loft  in  deep  Retirement,  aad  awful 
Siience.  O  Vile  Body  ! 

Thus  we  have  feen  with  what  Propriety  Vilcnefs  belongs 
to  thefe  Bodies.  How  fuitable  and  emphatical  the  degrad- 
ing Epithet  ?  Let  us  here  paufe,  and  improve,  and  fee 
JJmits  to  the  Description. 

Is  this  Body  fo  Vile  and  Wretched  ?  How  -vain  an&foolifk 

is    it  to  be  Proud  of  our    Body.      T«  G»px  r/T^  raTei/wo^f  ^»V: 

tte  Bidy  of  our  Humiliation.  Vain  Men  !  Frond  of  the  very 
Body  of  Humiliation  ;  Vile,  debating,  fujful  Clay.  Why 
fhculd  we  fet  our  Eyes  upon  that  which  is  not ;  or  in  a  little 
Time  will  not  be  ?  Why  fliould  we  prefer  our  Bodies,  and 
forget  our  Souls  ?  Cloath  and  adorn  thofe,  while  we  are 
regardlefs  of  the  Salvation  of  thefe  ?  Why,  ye  Fair,  fhouU 
ye  be  proud  of  a  Beauty  deflin'd  to  the  embrace  of  Worms  ? 
Or  why,  ye  Strong,  ihould  ye  boaft  the  hardy  Nature,  which 
muft  quickly  faint,  and  drop  down  breathlefs.  •  O  far  ba 
the  Thoughts  from  us,  to  be  vain  of  fuch  vile  Bodies  ! 
Away,  the  haughry  Mein,  and  tlie  difdair.fu!  Glance  ;  the 
confcious  Smile,  and  the  afluming  Brow,  Away  the  artful 
Movements  and  manag'd  Airs  of  Wanronccfs  and  Pride.  No 
more  let  airy  Fafhipns  and  loofer  Modes  of  Drefs  expofe  the 
Body.  Nor  let  it  be  loft  in  the  ftudied  Difproportipns  of 
an  ambitious  Garb.  Why  need  we  aflfect  an  Apparel,  fan- 
taflically  Demure,  on  the  one  Hand  ;  or  choofe  on  the  other, 
Pomp,  and  Glitter,  and  empty  Show  ?  We  may  appear  de- 
cent in  the  Polite  World,  without  running  through  all  t.ho 
c^uick  Succefiioa  of  Fopperies  :  The  round  f  Attire  like  ~tbs 

B  2  Moon, 

\  The  Round  Tire,  like  the  Moon,  in  Ifai.  5H.  18.  was  the  Silver 

Crcfcent  worn  upon  the  Head,  ia  idclatrcus  Hcncur  to  Qian% 

Ccddefs  of  the 


1 2         The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body. 

Moon,  m  a  perpetual  Circle  of  Changes.  Let  the  vile  Body 
be  CLOATHED  with  HUMILITY  :*  Modcfty  and 
Sobriety  are  the  bed  Ornaments. 

But  let  us  fet  Limits  to  the  Exclamation,  and  not  carry  it 
too  far.  No ;  our  Bodies,  vile  as  they  are,  are  to  be  honour- 
ed and  refpefted  by  us.  They  are  the  wonderful  Produc- 
tion of  Omnipotence,  the  curious  Wor  kmanfhip  of  an  alwife 
Artificer.  .Let  the  Body  of  the  Sinner  be  as  vile  as  it  will, 
your  Bodies,  ye  happy  Believers,  are  raifed  above  the  com- 
mon Clay  in  a  nobler  Honour.  What,  know  ye  not,  (fays 
the  Apoftle)  that  your  Bodies  are  the  Members  of  JESUS 
CHRIST  ? Know  ye  not,  that  your  Bodies  are  the  Tem- 
ples of  the  HOLY  GHOST,'  that  dwelleth  in  you.\  Our 
Bodies,  it  is  true,  are  in  many  refpecls  vile  ;  but  yer,  under 
all  their  humble  Circum fiances,  they  are  the  Members  of  our 
Lord  JESUS.  Let  us  always  then,  when  we  call  our  Bodies 
vile,  remember  that  they  are  nobie  roo,  and  intitled  to  the 
fublimeft  Honours.  Let  us  take  Care  of  them,  cheriili 
them,  view  them  in  the  Light  in  which  CHRIST  looked 
upon  his  own  Body.  For  he  fpake  concerning  the  Temple 
of  his  Body,  Joh.  ii.  21.  Let  us  refpeft  and  reverence  our 
Bodies,  as  the  Temples  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT ;  the  Mem- 
bers  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  the  Candida  res  of  a  glorious 
Refnrrection.  When  we  wafh,  or  feed,  or  cleat h,  or,  adorn 
our  Bodies,  let  fuch  Meditations  as  thefc,  produce,  and 
fanftify  the  Aft. 

But  we  come  to  the  fecond  Doctrine. 

Thefe  vile  Bodies  of  ours  JJjall  be  CHANGED.  The 
greateft  Part  of  Believers  on  CHRIST  ftiall  be  changed  by  a 
Refurrection  from  the  Dead  :  But  not  all.  Some  (hall  ne- 
ver die,  but  be  found  alive  at  the  Appearance  of  CHRIST  : 
Thefe  (hall  be  caught  up  to  meet  the  defcending  Judge,  and 
(hall  be  changed  in  the  (hining  Afcent.  See  in  the  ift  Epii'r. 
Cor.  xv.  Chap,  where  the  Apoftle  treats  this  Subject  at 
large,  ver.  51,  52.  Behold  I  /hew  you  a  tnyftery  ;  <ws  Jhall 

not 
*  i  Pet.'  v.  5.         f  i  Cor.  vi.  15.  19. 


The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body.          13 

not  all  fleep,  but  we  Jhall  all  be  changed,  in  a  moment,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  Eye,  at  the  lafl  Trumpet,  (for  the  Trumpet 
Jhall  found)  and  the  dead  Jhall  be  raifed  incorruf  table  ^  and 
•we  Jhall  be  changed.  So  that  in  the  End,  there  will  be 
very  little  Difference  between  the  dead  Believers,  and  thofe 
whom  our  Lord  finds  alive  at, his  coming.  Both  (hall  be 
changed  at  our  Lord's  Defcent  ;  caught  up  to  meet  him  in 
the  Regions  of  Air,  as  his  fiery  Chariot  rolls  down  amidft 
Thunder,  and  Clouds,  and  Whirlwinds.  The  Living  Saints 
(hall  be  (hatched  from  the  Earth,  and  changed  from  the 
feeble  State  they  are  now  in :  Thofe  who  are  Dead,  and  fleep 
among  the  Tombs,  (hall  (hake  off  the  Diflionours  of  the 
Graves,  and  be  changed  from  the  Vilenefs  of  Dud  and 
Worms.  Of  thefe  in  their  Order. 

This  vile  Body  (hall  be  changed  from  the  STATE  of 
DEATH.  What  though  our  Bodies  die  ;  they  (hall  re- 
vive from  the  Condition  of  Curfe  and  Corruption.  If  a 
Man  die^  Jljall  he  live  again  f  Yes  ;  at  the  Refurreclion 
of  the  Dead  (hall  he  be  raifed.  GOD  (hall  raife  the  Dead, 
by  the  Man  whom  he  hath  ordained,  whereof  he  has  given 
Aflurance  unto  all  Men  in  that  he  railed  him  from  the  Dead. 
So.  long  ago  as  the  Time  of  %obt  the  holy  Man  could  look 
ro  a  Redeemer,  who  (hould  call  him  from  the  Corruptions  of 
ihe  Grave,  and  renew  his  confumed  Limbs  to  Strength,  and 
his  Eyes  to  Li^ht.  [Job  xix.  25,  26,  27.]  For  I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  Irceth,  and  that  he  [hall  Jland  at  the  latter 
Day  upon  the  Earth.  And  though  after  my  Skin,  Worms  de- 
ft roy  this  Br.dy,yet  in  my  Fie Jh  Jhall  I  fee  GOD :  whom  I  Jhall 
fee  for  my  felf,  and  my  Eyes  beholdy  and  not  another  t  though 
my  Reins  be  confumed  within  me.  We  muft  die,  but  what 
then,  we  are  as  fure  of  a.Refurreftion  as  we  are  of  Death. 
But  Oh  !  what  a  blefled  Change  will  the  Refurre&ion  make 
upon  our  dead  Bodies.  Perhaps  the  Worms  have  feafted 
themfelves  upon  our  Laft  Dud  ;  but  they  (hall  refund  ir, 
and  give  back  every  Attom  :  All  that  real'y  bejongs  to  our 
numerical  Body,  The  Fillies  perhaps  have  eaten  the 
Carcafe,  buried  in  the  Waves,  and  lofl  in  the  Depths  of  the 
Ocean  :  But  the  Sea  alfo  (hall  return  it  back,  and  give  up 

tbs 


14         The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body. 

the  Dead  which  ars  in  it\  Thefe  Bodies  may  diflbl  ve,  and 
fcatter  among  the  Elements.  Our  Fluids  may  for  fake  thdr 
Vcffcls;  the  Solid  central,  and  fold  up  in  its  primitive  Mi- 
niature. And  even  after  that  the  little  invifibie  Bones  may- 
moulder  to  finer  Dud,  the  Dufl  may  refine  to  Water,  wan- 
<j!er  in  a  Cloud,  float  in  a  River,  or  be  loft  in  the  wide  Sea4 
and  .undiftinguifhed  Drop  among  the  Waves.  They  may 
be  again  fucked  up  by  the  Sun,  and  fall  in  a  Shower  upon 
the  Earth  ;  they  may  refrefh  the  Fields  with  Dew,  flourifh 
in  a  Spire  of  Grafs  ;  look  green  in  a  Leaf,  or  gaudy  in  a 
Flower  or  a  Bloflbm.  For  we  know  Muter  is  continually 
changing,  and  one  Element  perpetually  loafing  it  fclf  in  ano- 
ther. But  let  our  Dufl:  wander  where  it  will,  throughout 
the  whole  material  Creation,  yer  at  the  firft  Blaft  of  the  laft 
Trumpet,  it  (hall  all  at  once  rufh  together,  and  ftart  up  a 
compleat  Man.  The  vile  Body  (hall  be  changed,  where- 
ever  it  lay  hid  :  The  Dufl  (hall  be  called  together  ;  the 
Bones  fnuii  harden,  and  the  Joints  conneft  ;  a  new,  unknown, 
incorruptible  Fluid  fuddenly  fill  the  VefTels ;  the  Sinews 
(hall  brace  with  an  immortal  Strength,  no  more  to  be  parted  ; 
and  the  Skin  cover  all  with  everlafttng  Beauty,  never  to 
fade  any  more.  This  ihall  be  the  Change  from  the  State  of 

Death,  which  our  vile  Bodies  iliall  pafs  through The 

prophetick  Vifion  of  Ezekiel,  (hall  be  laterally  fulfilled  at 
that  day.  Ezek.  xxxvii, — 14. 

This  vile  Body  (hall  be  changed  from  its  PRESENT 
STATE.  Though  it  (hall  be  raifed  from  the  Dead,  it  (hall 
net  revive  to  its  prcfcnt  mean  and  difhonourable  Condition, 
bur  fhall  be  changed.  Now  it  is  a  Body  full  of  Uncleannefs 
and  Corruption,  Difeafeand  Death.  But  it  (hall  be  changed. 
Though  it  isfown  in  corruption,  it'Jhall  be  railed  in  incorrtip- 
tion*  Now  our  Body  is  mean  and  vile,  and  upon  many 
Accounts  difhoncurable  •,  but  it  (hall  be  changed.  Though 
//  is  f own  in  'Difbonour*  it  is  raifed  in  Glory.  Now  they 
are  weak,  and  fainr,  focn  exhanfted,  and  fpent  with  long 
and  clofe  Labour  :  But  they  (hall  be:changed  from  their 
feeble  flate.  /*  is  f  own  in  Weabiefs,  it  is  raifed  in  Power. 
Now  how  grofs  and  heavy  are  our  Bodies  ?  How  ftuggifli 

J  Rev.  xx,  13.        *  Jj  Cor.  xv,  42.  50.  44.  53. 


*The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body.          15 

find  unaftive  the  unweildy  Fleili  ?  But  it  (hall  be  changed. 
This  I  fay  Brethren,  F/eJb  and  Blood  cannot  inherit  the 
Kingdom  cfGod;  neither  doth  Corruption  inhtrit  Incorrupticn. 
It  is  fovun  a  natural  Body,  it  is  raifed  a  Spiritual  Body. 
What  can  we  fay  more  to  illuftrate  the  blefled  Change  ? 
Our  Body  is  now  in  a  thoufand  refpecls  an  infirm  and  dying 
Body  :  But,  O  glorious  Transformation  !  This  corruptible 
muft  put  on  Incorruption  ;  and  this  mortal  muft  put  on  Im  - 
mortality.  This  is  the  Change  from  the  prefent  State,  of 
which  thefe  very  vile  Bodies  are  the  Candidates.  But  we 
will  not  prevent  our  felves  from  faying 

Thefe  vile  Bodies  of  ours  Jhallbe  FASHIONED  LIKE 

UNTO  CHRISTY  GLORIOUS  BODY.   They&aii 

be  changed  from  the  corrupt  and  unclean  State  of  Death. 
More  than  this :  they  (hall  be  changed  from  all  the  Di(ho- 
nours  and  Meannefs  of  the  prefent  Life  :  But  O  fublimeft 
Glory  of  all  !  O  divine  Expectation,  and  facred  Hope  ! 
They  (hail  be  fajhioned  like  unto  his  glorious  Body.  Like 
the  illuftricus  and  immortal  Body  ot  our  blefTed  LORD 
JESUS  CHRIST.  Obferve  ;  CHRIST  ftill  has  a  Body. 
His  Body  has  a  Form  and  Shape  belonging  to  it.  It  is  net 
our  Bodies  i'hail  be  made  like  unto  CHRIST'S  glorious 
Body  ;  but  (hall  \>t  fajhioxed  \  ff-J^^w,  (haJl  receive  a  like 
Figure  and  Shape,  and  be  changed  into  the  fame  Image.  So 
fays  the  Apoflie,  i  Cor.  xv.  47,  49.  fkefrfl  man  is  of  the 
Earth,  earthy  :  the  fecond  Man  is  the  Ijord  from  Heaven. 
And  as  <uue  have  born  the  Image  of  the  Earthy ,  we  Jhall  alfo 
Lear  the  Image  of  the  Heavenly. 

But  what  is  this  Image  ?  and  Tffhat  is  implied  in  that  mod 
expreflive  Idea,  our  vile  (hall  be  changed  ;  and  falhioned 
like  unto  CHRiST's  glorious  Body  ?  I  (hail  juft  hint  at 
a  few  Particulars  very  briefly. 

To  have  the  vile  Body  faihioned  like  unto  CHRiST's 
glorious  Body,  implies  in  ir,  that  it  be  wade  fplendid  and 
illuftrious.  The  Body  of  CHRIST  is  a  fnining  Body,  and 
fcatters  Light  and  Glory  round  about  it.  Saul  was  (truck 
blind,  dazlcd  with  the  unfuflcrable  Blaze,  that  rufh'd  in  a 

Temped 


1 6         The  glorious  Change  cf  the  vile  Body. 

Temped  upon  his  Eyes,  from  the  Body  of  the  Son  of  GOD 
John  beheld  him,  with  his  Face  fhining  like  the  Sun  in  its 
meridian  Flame,  and  his  Body  beaming  in  an  anfwerable 
Glory.  The  Angels  and  the  glorified  Saints  behold  him,  as 
the  great  Ornament  and  the  Light  of  Heaven  :  For  the  Lamb 
is  the  Light  of  if,  and  they  need  no  Sun,  or  Moon,  or  Candk.i 

If  CHRIST'S  Body  be  thus  fplendid,  cur's  (hail  be  fo 
too  ;  for  they  (hall  be  fafhioncd  like  unto  his  glorious  Body. 
They  {hall  put  on  a  (bin ing  Form  ;  (hoot  like  a  Flame  from 
rhe  Grave,  and  glitter  like  a  Ray  of  Light  up  the  Ether. 
Dan,  xii.  3.  They  that  be  wife,  Jhall  Jbine  as  the  Bright nefs 
cf  the  Firmament,  and  they  which  turn  many  to  Righteouf- 
nefs,  as  the  Stars  for  ever  and  ever. 

It  implies  that  our  Bodies  fhall  be  immortal.  CHRIST'S 
Body  is  immortal  ;  Being  rai fed  from  the  Dead,  he  dieth  n$ 
more,  Rev.  vi.  9.  He  pronounces  with  a  Voice  of  Triumph, 
Rev.  i.  1 8.  /  #7/2  be  that  liveth,  and  was  dead ;  and  behold, 
I  am  alive  for  ever  more,  Amen. 

Is  the  Body  of  CHRIST  immortal  ?  our  Bodies  (hall  be 
fefliioned  like  unto  his  own  immortal  BoJy.  This  Mortal 
mufl  put  on  Immortality.  We  mud  all  die  ;  we  (hall  die  but 
once.  Being  raifed  from  the  Dead,  Death  (hall  be  {wallowed 
up  in  Victory  ;  and  there  Jhall  be  no  more  Death.* 

It  implies  that  our  Bodies  fhall  be  glorified  with  very 
myfterious  and  aftonijhing  Powers.  The  Body  of  thrift  could 
afcend  and  defccnd  with  equal  cafe.  It  could  (land  aloft 
in  the  Air,  without  any  vifible  Support ;  fo  he  looked  down 
through  the  opened  Heavens,  upon  the  expiring  Stephen  ; 
A£l.  vi.  56.  So  he  dazled  the  Eyes  of  Saul  in  the  Road  to 
Damafcus  ;  Aft.  ix.  3.  It  could  rile  up  gradually  from  the 
Ground,  and  tower  away  through  the  upper  Skies,  to  the 
World  above.  So  he  afccnded  in  the  View  of  the  Men  of 
Galilee,  till  a  Cloud  fail'd  uader  his  Feet,  and  ravifhed  him 
from  their  gazing  Eyes ;  Aft.  5.  9.  The  Body  of  CHRIST 
could  fhift  its  form  as  there  was  Occafion,  and  vary  its  Shape 
a&d  Drefs,  according  to  the  Difpofuion  of  his  Soul.  To 

ffiary 
j-  Rev.  xxi.  53.         *  Rev,  xxi,    4. 


The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body.         17 

Mary  Magdalene  he  aifumed  fhe  Form  and  Habit  of  a  Gar- 
dener ;  jib>  xv:,  15.  While  the  fame  Day,  the  two  Difciples 
going  ro  Emmaus,  miftook  him  for  a  Traveller,  from  his 
Air  and  Drefs.f  For  after  that  he  appeared  in  ANOTHER 
F  RM  |j  unto  two  of  them  as  they  walked,  and  went  into  tht 
Country.  In  a  Word,  the  Body  of  CHRIST  could  appear 
or  vanifti  juit  as  he  pleafed,  and  it  ihould  feem  without 
Refinance  from  grofler  Matter.  Thus  to  his  Difciples  met 
together,  with  the  Door  (hut,  on  a  fudden,  he  flood  confefs'd 
in  '.he  midft  of  them,  to  their  Wjn;ler  and  Amazement.J 
1  can  fee  nothing  tending  to  Herefy  in  this  Conjecture  : 
Nor  do  I  think  we  have  any  reafon  to  read  the  Paflage,  after 
the  Time  of  faulting  the  Door.  But  it  is  indifferent  to  our 
prefcnt  Head,  whether  the  Body  of  our  Lord  penetrated 
through  ihe  Pores  of  the  Wood,  as  Light,  which  is  a  Bodjr 
does  through  the  much  finer  Pores  of  Glafs  ;  or  wheti.^x 
it  had  a  Power  fo  marvellous,  as  to  open  and  (hut  the  Door, 
ar  once  fo  fwifr,  and  fo  fo'ft,  as  to  be  entirely  uaperceived 
both  by  the  Sight  and  Hearing.  Either  the  one  or  the 
c.hcr,  (hows  the  wondrous  Powers  of  the  raifed  Body. 

And  are  thefe  the  Glories  of  CHRIST'S  Body  ?  our's 
(hall  be  faihioneJ  like  it,  When  we  are  raifed  from  the 
D-.-a;1,  our  Bodies  will  be  active  as  the  Flames,  and  vigorous 
as  the  Sun- beams.  They  will  be  able,  to  command  their 
Shape,  or  to  (hi ft  their  Place  as  they  pleafe.  To  glide  over 
Oceans,  rife  through  the  Clouds,  dart  like  a  Stream  of 
Lightning  from  Ealt  to  Weft,  and  range  fuddenly  over  the 
whole  Creation. 

Ir  implies,  That  our  Bodies  (hall  be  renewed,  holy  Bodies, 
CHRIST's  Body  is  holy,  and  always  was  fo.  He  knew  no  Sin  j 
a  '  i  though  he  was  made  in  the  likenefs  of  finful  Fkfli,  yec 
wi.hout  Sin.  He  was  holy,  harmlejs,  undsfiled,  federate  frcrt 
Sinners.  His  Body  was  facred,  and  confecrate,  and  perfectly 
holy  from  its  Birth.  So  the  Angel  blefled  the  Womb  of  the 
pregnant  Virgin,  The  Holy  thin?  which  foall  be  born  of  t bee, 
jhiil  be  called  the  Son  tfGOD.§ 

C  Is 

t  Lute.  xxlv.    13       Mark  xvi.   12. 

ii  M;j<p7,    7  he  Word  which  driflotte  ufes  for  his  Subfiantlal  Fortx* 

$  Joii.  xx.  19,  s6.      Luk.  xxiy.   36.  37,         §  Luk.  i.  35. 


1 8         "The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body. 

Is  the  Body  of  CHRIST  holy  ?  our's  (hail  be  fo  too  ; 
(hall  be  fafhioned  like  unro  his  own  holy  Body.  Thefe 
Senfes  ihall  be  refined,  thefe  PafTions  recYified,  and  thefe  Appe- 
tites adjufted  to  a  perfect  Order  and  Occonomy.  O  divine 
Felicity,  when  this  fmfui  Fleih,  (hall  be  changed  into  a  per- 
fect holy  Temple  !  Our  Sa notification  difplays  it  felf  upon 
Spirit,  Soul,  and  Body.  In  this  Lre,  we  are  fan&iikd 
bin  in  Part,  in  each  of  thefe.  Our  Souls  are  wholly 
fanftified,  upon  the  laft  happy  Gafp  of  Death  :  Our  Bodies 
will  be  fo  too,  at  the  final  Note  of  the  great  Trumpet,  that 
fhdi!  cill  them  from  the  ouily  Bofom  of  the  Grave.  Then 
(hall  they  be  railed  holy  Bodies,  fafhioned  like  unto 
CHRIST'S  mod  glorious  Body. 

Why  /hould  we  proceed  any  further  ?  Shall  our  Bodies 
be  fafaioned  like  to  CHRIST's  glorious  Body?  It  is  enough  ! 
We  can  go  no  higher  ;  can  wiih  no  more  !  We  make  a  vain 
effort  to  defcribe  the  Glory  ;  which  the  Fancy  cannot  paint, 
nor  the  Heart  conceive.  Our  raifed  Bodies  will  {hine  with  a 
Splendor,  which,  at  prefent,  we  can  have  no  equal  Idea  of. 
Beloved,  now  are  we  the  Sons  of  GOD  ;  and  it  doth  r.ot 
appear  what  We  Jlwll  he  :  But  we  know,  that  when  he  Jhall 
appear*  we  Jhall  be  like  him  for  we  ftjall  fee  him  ar  he  is\^ 
It  does  not  yer  appear  what  we  Jhal!  be  :  We  can't  imagine 
cr  conceive  the  Brightfiefs  of  our  future  Glory.  No  matter  ; 
It  is  enough  for  us,  that  we  (hall  wifh  thefe  Eyes  behold 
the  beauteous  and  majcHick  Ficeof  JP^SUS.  and  fee  him  as 
hs  is.  If  we  may  but  wiih  open  Face  behold  the  Glory  of  the 
Lord,  we  (hall  irrefitlibiy  catch  the  Beams,  and  be  changed 
into  the  fame  Image  from  G/Ory  to  Glory.  The  Vifion  will 
be  a  transforming  Vifion.  We  Jhnlibe  like  Him,  for  we  Jhall 
fee  him  as  he  /j.  Be  like  Bini  ;  How  ?  who  can  fay  how? 
Ir  is  above  our  monal  Language  to  declare  how.  It  does 
not  appear  what  we  Jhall  be,  but  we  know  that  when  he  flail 
appear  we  Jhall  be  like  him,  for  we  Jh  ail  fee  him  as  he  is.  O 
happy  Vifion  !  O  blikful  Change  !  O  myfterious  Glory  ! 

The  Fourth  Propofition  of  the  Text,  is,  It  is  our  LORD 
JESUS  CHRIST  who  (hall  change  our  vile  Body,  and 
faihion  it  like  His  glorious  Body.  This  is  the  Work  of 

the 

f  I  Job,  iii,    2. 


The  glormts  Change  of  the  vi!<*  Body.          19 

ihe  great  GOD  our  SAVIOLR.     Re 
w///do  if.  Here  is  the  Power  ;  !K'«  e  is 
He  is  able  and  he  will  ke<  •:•,  and  rail 
the  Duft  committed  10  Him.     From  the  i 
text  I  might  fe:ch  Arguments  en 
But  I  fee  the  Time  expires,  and  I  ci- 

I  come  now  to  make  a  (here  Improvement  of  the  noble 
Doftrines. 


How  unhappy  are  wV.fo/  A-x-  /  He  j#W/  change  OUR 
vile  Body  tbit  It  may  be  fa/J^v-icd  like  his.  Ours  ;  none 
but  c«rj.  The  Unbeliever  and  ' 

at  all  in  this  b}ejfe<.i  hope  ;  none  but   rhe  fincere  Chriftian 
can  apply  it  to  himfelf.    It  is  true  c^.  muit  be  raifcd 

from  the  D?  id,  as  well  a  .  die  hotyi  Bui  U'i  !  how  wide  the 
Difference  between  rhe  ;  ;?  ;IIK  the  osher,  at  the  great  decj- 
five  Day  !  The  wicked  fhail  be  rai/ed  to  Shame  and  ever- 
Lifting  Contempt.  No  Glory  fliall  (liine  about  them,  no 
Image  of  CHRIST  ftal]  appear  upon  them.  They  ftiall 
be  clanged,  'tis  true,  but  O  the  dreadful  Change  !  Their 
feeble  Bodies  muft  be  changed  into  Bodies  J?/-^jo  bear  the 
Wrath  of  an  Almighty  GOD.  Their  dying  and  dead  Bodies 
fliall  be  changed  into  Bodies  of  an  immortal  Conftitution  ; 
Bodies  that  mud  live  forever  in  unfufFerable  Anguifh  !  That 
muft  meafure  Eternal  Ages  with  Groans  and  Out-Cries,  and 
Execrations  and  Defpair.  Their  corrupt  and  filthy  Bodies 
(hall  be  changed  into  ten  thoufand  Times  more  hideous  and 
hathfoms  Figures  :  Fit  to  be  Inhabitants  of  Hell,  aoi 
Companions  for  Devils.  Their  healthy  and  plea  fir  able 
Bodies  fhaJl  be  changed,  be  feized  and  rack'd  with  an  unknown 
Variety  of  Pains  and  Torments  j  (hall  feed  the  Flames  of 
the  horrible  Furnace  ;  kindled  with  the  Wrath  of  GOD,  that 
burneth  as  an  Oven,  and  endureth  for  ever.  And  Oh  ! 
who  can  dive/I  with  devouring  Fire  f  ii-h'>  can  endure  ever- 
laftingBurmngs  f  The  darknefs  of  the  Grave  ihall  be  changed 
for  the  outer  Darknefsy  where  Jhali  be  weeping  andgnafl:ir,g 
of  Teeth.  Inftcad  of  being  falhioned  like  unto  CHRIST'S 
glorious  Body  ;  they  (hall  be  blacken'd  with  the  finifii'd 
•  Image  of  the  Devil,  and  be  coafigned  qvqr  to  e*vcr!cij!:..-g 

C  2  "I  //-, 


2®         The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body. 

Fire.  prepi~cd  for  the  Devil  and  bis  Angels.  O  the  fearful 
Change,  which  the  Refune&ion  will  make  upon  the 
Bodies  of  the  wicked  ! 

Let  us  learn  tofet  a  double  Value  upon  our  Bodies.  Though 
We  may  not  idolize  them,  as  the  Crime  generally  is,  we 
ought  to  honour  them,  and  cherifli  them  with  a  proper  Care. 
What  Honours  are  they  coming  to  in  a  future  Stare  P  They 
(hall  be  raifed,  and  changed,  and  faftiioned  like  to  CHRIST'S 
glorious  Body. 

Learn  the  Honours  of  our  Lord  JESUS  CHRIST.  'Tis 
HE  who  (hall  raife  thefe  vile  Bodies,  and  fafliion  them  like 
his  glorious  B:>dy.  'Herein  is  rhe  dear  Saviour  mighty  as  a 
GOD  j  herein  he  is  good  2^  a  GOD  too.  Not  only  can 
he,  but  he  will  do  this  for  us.  O  what  Love  fhould  beat 
In  the  Hearts  of  thefe  Bodies,  to  him  who  fliall  change  them, 
and  be  the  Strength  of  tbcfs  very  Hearts,  and  their 
Portion  for  ever.  What  Thanks  (hall  we  pay  this  adored 
JESUS !  What  grateful  Returns  fliall  we  make  him  !  Lee 
every  Breath  arife  tuneful  in  his  Honours,  who  ihall  quickly 
infpire  thefe  Noftrils  with  Breath  that  will  never  fcatter  or 
gafp  away.  Let  every  Pulfe  in  our  Blood,  beat  Time  to 
Mufick  of  his  Praife,  who  will  anon  give  the  Pulfes  to  leap 
through  this  living  Frame,  unfainting  and  immortal.  Lee 
every  Member  of  thefe  vile  Bodies,  grow  honourable,  by 
Employment  in  his  Service,  who  fhall  change  our  vile  Bodies, 
and  fafliion  them  like  his  own.  Our  Eyes,  be  ye  exhautled 
in  viewing  the  Works  of  GOD,  in  Reading  his  Word,  and 
be  lifted  up  to  Heaven  in  his  Praife  !  Thefe  Eyes  which 
(hall  fee  GOD  !  Our  Ears,  employ  all  your  curious  Organs 
in  hearing  his  dear  Voice  ;  thefe  Ears  which  ihall  quickly 
be  changed;  which  fliall  hear  the  Voice  of  the  Son  of 
GOD,  in  the  Grave?  where  they  lie,  an t  be  tranfported 
vvirh  endlefs  HalKlujahs.  Shall  not  thefe  Tongues  of  ours 
be  redeemed  from  the  filent  Grave,  and  utter  the  Anthems 
of  Heaven  ?  Awake  up  then,  our  Tongue,  our  Glory ;  and 
blefs  and  praife  the  LORD.  Thefe  Lips  fhall  forget  the 
Pale  of  Death,  and  be  changed,  and  bloom  afrefh  :  what 
can  we  do  left  than  praife  thee  aloud  with  joyful  Lips,  who 

(ball 


The  glorious  Change  of  the  vile  Body.         21 

(hall  renew  rheir  faded  Beauty.  O  let  all  the  Body  which 
flui  ^c  changed  hv  CHRIST,  be  employed  in  the  Service  of 
CHRIST.  Ho*'  was  CHRISTY  B-xty  employed  upon 
Earth  ?  Let  our  B  >jies  he  employed  like  bis  now,  which  (hall 
\>Q  fafbioned  like  />/•  h;-c.:jter. 

And  to  conchidf.     /v^/W^  ^  O  Believer,  77^  tk?</  ;;^»  ^// 
tegetbt.r  it;//'-'  my  deai  Body  Jhall  they  arife  ;   Awake, 

,  fi  >>     c  .(>'>&?•  st-j  i!  ni  the  Dull  :  for   thy  dew  is  as  the 
;  tht  Earth  Jl, til  c  aft  out  her  dead*    Shall 
our  Body  <om  the  *Vave,  let  us  not  be  afraid  to 

patent  thi?  B.;Jy  ;  let  us  meet  Dsnth  with  Triumph  !  Death! 
\vhich  (hall  only  change  this  vile  Bjdy  for  a  glorious  one. 
What  glories  are  to  come  even  upon  this  vile  B  >dy  of  ours. 
Our  '  ft  Parts,  they  are  fate.  Nay,  but  our 

B  '  bevifi  Body,  (hall  be  all  glorious.  Now,  perhaps, 
th  eB  dies  are  in  Pajn  j  bur  quickly  they  (hall  know  no  more 
Pain.  .Nv>vv  they  are  weary  with  Labour  ;  quickly,  they 
(hall  reft  from  their  Labour,  and  raife  to  conflant  Exercife 
\vifhout  Wearinefs.  Now  they  weep  and  figh  in  many 
«.vs  :  Quickly,  all  T^ars  (lull  be  wiped  from  our  Eyes, 
and  Sorrow  acd  Sighing  (hall  flee  away.  Now  they  {hall  die, 
and  go  down  to  the  Graves  which  wait  for  us  :  But  though 
we  die,  yet  (h.ill  we  live  ;  we  (hall  be  redeemed  from  the 
Power  of  the  Grave,  and  arife  to  die  no  more.  Therefore 
my  heart  is  glal.  and  my  $lcry  rejoiceth  ;  my  flejh  afo 
reft  in  hope.  For  tbou  wilt  not  leave  my  Soul  in  the  Grave  ; 
nor  fuffer  thy  holy  one  always  to  fee  co  ruption.  Thou  wilt 
JLew  me  the  path  of  Life,  in  a  Refurre&ion  from  the  Dead; 
in  thy  Prefence  is  Fulnefs  oj  Joy,  and  at  thy  Right  Hand  are 
Pleafures  for  evermore. 

AMEN. 

*  Ifai.  xxvi.  19. 


To  fill  up  the  vacant  Pages,  is  inferred  the  following  Extrad  f 

New* England  Weekly  Journal,  written  by  the  Author  in  «he  Year 
1727,  under  an  afluiaed  Charaaer,  and  fmce  ottea  reprinted  in 
Magazine f,  and  clfc where. 

IN  a  former  Paper,  I  began  to  confider  thofe  awful  Changes  which  all  Mankind 
muft  pafs  through,  but  which  now  lie  hid  in  the  Mazes  of  Fucmity,  and  appear  to 
our  Eyes  in  a  Cloud  at  a  great  Diftance.  I  then  confidsred  Dearb,  as  awful  and 
unavoidable  j  full  of  furprize,  and  big  with  a  folemn  Kind  of  Curicfity.  As  I  was  re- 
faming  thefe  Contemplations,  and  meditating  on  that  new  Face  of  Things  which  awa- 
kens to  the  lyes  of  a  Spirit  newly  departed  from  the  Body,  I  found  among  my  Papers  a 
imall  Arabian  Manufcript  which  I  lit  upon  in  my  Travels  thro'  ferjia.  It.  contains  a 
Collection  of  Traces  written  by  feveral  famous  Oriental  Mavi  j  among  which  is  One, 
called,  the  Meditations  of  Co/Jim  the  Son  of  Ahmed.  Thk  being  adapted  to  my  • 
Defign,  I  fhall  communicate  it  to  the  Pablick,  in  a  Traallation  an  litteral  as  the  i  li 
the  two  Languages  will  admit.  I  iha'.l  only  obfei  ve,  that  though  the  Boldnefigpf  the 
Metaphors,  and  the  Liberty  of  the  Style  are,  after  the  Eaftern  Way,  above  flfe  little 
Niceries  of  our  colder  Climates,  and  proclaim  it  genuine  j  yet  there  appear  many 
in  it,  which  look  like  fome  of  the  Refinements  of  our  modern  European  Philofophy  j 
whence  it  fhould  feem  that  they  were  acquainted  with  them  before  us.  And  whether 
we  did  not  at  firft  derive  our  Knowledge  in  thefe  Inftances  from  them,  I  leave  to  be  de- 
cided by  Men  of  Learning,  who  have  Leifure,  and  a  Genius  for  Antiquity. 

T!.?e  Meditation  of  CAS  SIM  the  Son  of  AHMED. 

Was  a  few  Nights  ago,  walking  over  the  Kills  in  the  Weftern  and  unireq':? nte-i 
'Paths  of  tta  City  Lima,  which  looks  to-vard*  the  Defert  of  Blcatif,  in 

*  refrefla  m yfel v"  after  the  Studies  of  the  Day.  As  I  grew  tired  With  walking,  I  feated  ; 
'  on  the  Head  of  one  of  the  higheft  among  that  verdent  Range  of  Mountains,  and  gave  n  y 

-to  a  profound  Contemplation   on  the  Works  of  the  great  Creator,  which  trrrrj 
'  preferred  tnemfelvec  to  my  View,  in  the  moil  charming  ProfpecT:  imaginable, 

*  Knight  of  the  Place,  the  Stillnefs  of  the   Seafon,  the   Majefty  anduSpiernnity  of  the 
'  Shads*,  which  were  at  that  time  filvered  over  with  a  bright  MoonJjBft,  fpread  througn 
-f  my  whole  Scul  a  Trancuility,    not  to  be   felt  but  by  a  Mind  free   from  Guilt,   arid 
e  railed  by  the  Raptures  of  Religion  and  Devotion.     On  one  Hand  of  the  Summit  where 

Beared  buried  in  Sleep  and  Silence,  and  produced  in  my  Heart  thefe 

*  ten  er  ove:  flrxvi'ngs  ofCompaffion  anc!  Humanity  which  are  natural  to  a  punerous  MinJ. 

*  On  tlis  other  i.de.  the  De'Vii:   >;T.i^  //extended  its  Uncultivated  Demenfions,  and  by 

*  ir    V,*i:  v's  a-  J  Ruggednefs  of  Land/kip,  flruck    my  Imagination  with  a  hind  of  ple.v 

.oivor.     I  could  obferve  nothing  throughout  its  favage  Waftes  but  the    Cavenis 
'  ar.J  Precipices,  broken  Rocks  and  Mountains,  hallow  Vales,  fandy  Plains,  ar.il  , 
'  F>  r-fts  with  which  it  is  covered.     At  the  Foot  of  the  Hill,  the  Pviver  which  water 

*  L:^a,  flowed  alam;  in  a  ferene  Calm,  jwhofe  Waves  feemed  to.  :r.  irmur  in  their  Sleej 
'  and  nod  gently  to  the  Shore.     Over  mv  Headth*  Skies  /hone  with  a  lively  blue, when: 
t  the  beautiful  Emnrefs  of  the  Night  uifpml'ed  her  Influences,  and  the  St.1. rs  twinkh 
•'round  her  Throne,  like  fo  im:iy  Diamonds  in  an  Arch  of  Saphire.     In  a  \vord,    the 

*  Place,  the  Seafon,  and  the  Siibj?ft  of  my  Meditations  all  confpired  to  fix  my  Thoughis, 
'  and  kindle  in  my  Bofom  the  Flames  of  a  holy  Tranfport. 

'.  AS  I  melted  ?.wny  in  ftiefe  Delights,  I  cculd  not  help  imagining  that  the  fame  Em- 
'  pbyment  I  was  then  pleafing  my  felf  with,  bore  fome  Analogy  to  thefe  which  regale 
'  the  departed  Spirits  of  good  Men. 

"  O  Son  of  AbmeJ,  fair!  I1  to  my  felf.  do  no);  the  Inhabitants  of  Parsdife   thus  admire 
"  the  V/oiks  of  GOD  !  Bce<;  not  the  Harmony  of  their  Praife  rove  through  the  Bowers 
"  of  Biifs,  and  foften  the  Murmurs  of  the  Stre?ms  of  Life  !   Are  they  not  overflowed 
<c  with  a  Flood  of  Joy,  when  they  fearcb  the  Labyrinths  of  Great  ir::,  and  range  through, 
•crninions  of  the  Suj  /cam  Being  !   Methinks  I  behold  them  li;t  up  their  admiring 
.   from  the  FirJds  grren  'n  an  eternal  Flourifh,  ana  with  a  ftigpngthened  and  in- 
-ged  Ken,   penetrate  in'^o  'h;  remote  Spaces  of  the  Ether.     '   i  -y    v  ew  the  varicus 
<ems  that  compofc  our  Univerfe,  .ind  their  Intelects  are  fa-etched  and  crowded  with 
imple  Vifion.     Here  the  ^  Stars,  like  fo   many  Sans,  beat  upon  their  fight  in  rt 
;l  of  Glory.  Here  thefe.eral  Planets  gravitate  to  their  refpcilive  SuE£,and^;.vh^',ei 
C  in  a  mightyEdJy  of  Liquid  Flame.  Here  the  IclTer  Satellites  dance  aLlendanc'.V  to 
prias^ry  PiaAetsA  and  with  a  milder  gleam/origii'.ea  ^r  Shades.,  and vcfrefli  t'seiv 
•  ff  "   ' 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 
LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


23  Ja'58j  N  ' 

~~ 

RED.  CIK. 

rrn  o    /.- 

rt.D  0      i33v 

W«b'50MHf 

REC'D  LD 

APR  2  8  1958 

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ntV^IWD 

r^/^Z— 

NOVIO'64   £, 

.      ^j  L«L) 

'4UN241970  47 

../MI  1  o'C/lu-Q.  /vM 

1  0  70  -8  PM  ~  ff 

MOU1864biAM        G€oetllIJtal_    ' 

LD  21A-50m-8,')57 
(C8481slO)476B 


University  of  California 
Berkeley 


M180583 


<&? 


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